Raila Sparks Political Shake-Up with Fresh Coalition Move for 2027 Elections
Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio alliance, may establish a fresh political apparatus to confront President William Ruto in 2027, as disclosed by a trusted associate.
Opiyo Wandayi, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly, also disclosed that they would back Raila if he expressed a desire to run for the presidency once more.
Indications of Raila discreetly forming a new coalition became apparent on Tuesday as he engaged in discussions with Jimmy Wanjigi, the 2022 presidential hopeful from the Safina Party.
The pair chose not to engage with the reporters stationed at the Norfolk Hotel. However, when reached later for comment, Wanjigi stated that they deliberated on issues of national significance.
“We discussed several issues but more importantly matters of national interest with the Azimio leader in our meeting that went very well,” Wanjigi said.
Concerns are arising about the potential fragility of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya alliance, with apprehensions that internal conflicts stemming from conflicting ambitions could jeopardize its continuity until the 2027 elections.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, the leader of Narc Kenya, are at odds over the formation of Kamwene, a political platform associated with opposition figures from the Mt Kenya region.
Both individuals are regarded as crucial figures within Azimio, and their divergent views may indicate a potential conflict that could jeopardize the coalition’s chances of success.
Wandayi, a strong supporter of Raila, disclosed that significant changes are anticipated within the coalition, potentially bringing in fresh allies and partners to establish a more expansive and inclusive coalition.
This implies that although some partners may exit during the course, the coalition has the potential to welcome new members, forming a new alliance poised to rival Kenya Kwanza in the upcoming 2027 competition.
“Azimio might evolve to be a much bigger movement that could even be renamed something else,” Wandayi said in an interview with the Nation.
Acknowledging that 2027 is in the distant future, Wandayi stated that the opposition has various alternatives for approaching the upcoming general election, whether it involves maintaining Azimio or forming a new entity.
“We are going to support whoever will be picked to fly the Azimio flag. It could be Azimio, it could be something else, but again you know 2027 is still far,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for Ugunja suggested that there is a possibility of a political realignment in the country as politicians strategize to secure democratic power in the upcoming 2027 general election.
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“The political landscape is going to change, there will be alignments and realignments between now and the next general election,” he said.
Raila is navigating a precarious situation amidst divisions within Azimio, particularly following the resistance from influential figures who disagreed with the conclusions of the National Dialogue Committee’s final report.
Karua and DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa objected to the Nadco report, arguing that it did not adequately tackle the concerns that compelled Kenyans to protest, particularly the high cost of living.
The divisions within Azimio may compel Raila to seek fresh alliances to assemble a strong coalition that can confront Ruto in the upcoming 2027 elections.
His upcoming meeting with his once-allied, now-opposing figure, Wanjigi, indicates a renewed effort to form a different coalition.
The individual who played dual roles as a businessman and a politician had a falling-out with Raila in 2018 following the mock swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park.
The pair used to be intimate friends and political comrades, a connection that led to Wanjigi actively engaging in Raila’s electoral campaigns in 2017.
In a previous media interview, Wanjigi claimed that Raila engaged in the March 9, 2018 handshake with Uhuru without informing his closest associates.
Raila has prior experience in establishing a fresh political apparatus in preparation for national elections, making this a familiar undertaking for him.
In the recent three surveys, Raila has participated in different alliances to secure the position of the nation’s top executive.
In the 2007 elections, he represented the ODM party, and he subsequently formed the Cord coalition, which supported his candidacy in the 2013 elections.
In 2017, Raila formed the Nasa coalition while in 2022 he had the Azimio movement.
August 9, 2022, was Raila Odinga’s fifth stab at the presidency.
Last year, analysts said, was Raila’s best bet yet, since he enjoyed the backing of Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Raila has run the whole gamut on the Kenyan opposition politics, challenging and writing history.
He was the first successful politician to challenge presidential election results, nullifying the first presidential election in Africa.
Raila has also written history by being part of the failed Building Bridges initiative and shaking hands with his once-fiercest rivals.
Raila Sparks Political Shake-Up with Fresh Coalition Move for 2027 Elections